Morlocks are a group of
mutant
In biology, and especially in genetics, a mutant is an organism or a new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is generally an alteration of the DNA sequence of the genome or chromosome of an organism. It ...
characters appearing in
American comic books published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Comics'' in 19 ...
. The characters are usually depicted as being associated with the
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to ...
in the
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Comics take place. Super-teams such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Guardians of ...
. Created by writer
Chris Claremont and artist
Paul Smith Paul Smith or Paul Smith's may refer to:
Music
* Paul Smith (composer) (1906–1985), American film music composer
* Paul Smith (pianist) (1922–2013), Los Angeles jazz pianist
* Paul Smith (rock vocalist) (born 1979), vocalist and songwriter of ...
, they were named after the
subterranean race of the same name in
H. G. Wells' novel ''
The Time Machine
''The Time Machine'' is a science fiction novella by H. G. Wells, published in 1895. The work is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel by using a vehicle or device to travel purposely and selectively fo ...
'', but unlike in the Wells book, they are not a faceless, threatening mass of villains. They first appeared as a group in ''
The Uncanny X-Men'' #169 (May
1983).
Caliban appeared prior to that, but he was not yet a member of the Morlocks.
The Morlocks were depicted as an underground society (both
literally
''Literally'' is an English adverb. It has been controversially used as an intensifier for figurative statements.
History
The first known use of the word ''literally'' was in the 15th century, or the 1530s, when it was used in the sense of "i ...
and
figuratively) of outcast mutants living as
tunnel dwellers in the
sewers, abandoned tunnels, and
abandoned subway lines beneath
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...
. The Morlocks were composed of mutant misfits, especially those mutants who, because of physical mutations or other conspicuous manifestations of their mutant genetics, were unable to pass as human in normal society. Subjected to hate, fear, and disgust from human society due to their "deformed" appearances, dangerous mutations, or otherwise
outcast or misfit statuses, most of the Morlocks viewed humans (and even more mainstream mutants such as the X-Men) with distrust and anger, and they occasionally committed criminal or antisocial acts upon the above-ground human society.
Due to a series of tragedies, the original Morlocks no longer reside in subterranean New York City (except
Marrow, who was one of the original Morlocks as a child), although a violent splinter cell
Gene Nation and a comparable group called Those Who Live in Darkness have emerged. Similar groups, called Morlocks by readers and/or the X-Men themselves, have appeared under
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...
and
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
.
History
According to
Callisto, she formed the Morlocks by first recruiting
Caliban, and then using his power to track down other mutants who were unable to integrate into normal society. The Morlocks initially
squatted in a network of abandoned, interconnected tunnels beneath
Manhattan
Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...
, which had originally been built as
Cold War bomb shelter
A bomb shelter is a structure designed to provide protection against the effects of a bomb.
Types of shelter
Different kinds of bomb shelters are configured to protect against different kinds of attack and strengths of hostile explosives.
Air ...
s and then forgotten.
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #170 (June 1983). Marvel Comics.]
The X-Men were alerted to the existence of the Morlocks when their leader Callisto kidnapped
Angel
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles inc ...
and intended to make him her mate.
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #169. Marvel Comics.] This brought
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), ...
to challenge Callisto to a duel for leadership of the Morlocks. Victorious, Storm
orders an end to their attacks on normal humans, but she does not assume leadership of the Morlocks full-time. Against her wishes, several Morlocks later kidnap the child superheroes
Power Pack so that they could be raised by the Morlock Annalee, who had lost her own children. When Callisto discovers what was going on, she forces Annalee to let them go. They promise to return in the future to keep her company.
A majority of the Morlocks are slaughtered by
Mister Sinister's
Marauders
Marauder, marauders, The Marauder, or The Marauders may refer to:
* A person engaged in banditry or related activity
** Piracy
** Looting
** Outlaw
** Partisan (military)
** Robbery
** Theft
Entertainment
* ''Marauder'', the second novel in t ...
in the "
Mutant Massacre
"Mutant Massacre" was a 1986 Marvel Comics crossover storyline. It primarily involved the superhero teams the X-Men and X-Factor. The solo hero Thor, the New Mutants, Power Pack and Daredevil crossed over for an issue each in their own com ...
". Most of the survivors move on to join
Gene Nation, having lived in a
pocket dimension led by
Mikhail Rasputin.
Leech
Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented b ...
instead becomes a ward of
Generation X
Generation X (or Gen X for short) is the Western demographic cohort following the baby boomers and preceding the millennials. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1960s as starting birth years and the late 1970s to early 1980s ...
. Other survivors include
Erg and
Beautiful Dreamer (whose whereabouts were unknown until
"Decimation"),
Thornn, (who would join
X-Corporation
The X-Corporation (X-Corp) is a fictional institution appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men comics. This organization was created to ensure the protection of mutant rights throughou ...
), and Caliban.
It is later revealed that many of the Morlocks were actually failed experiments of the
Dark Beast, although he made certain that they didn't remember being tampered with, however Mister Sinister recognized that the Morlocks were based on his own genetic studies (which the Dark Beast learned from the Sinister of his reality), and that's why he ordered the Marauders to kill the entire underground society.
A new group called the Tunnel Rats which also calls itself "Those Who Live in Darkness" have inhabited the sewer tunnels just below the surface of Mutant Town/
District X
District X, also known as Mutant Town or the Middle East Side, is a fictional location appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is a neighborhood in New York City primarily populated by mutants, first seen during Gran ...
. ''District X'' writer
David Hine claims to never have intended this group to have any ties to the original Morlocks.
During the "
Decimation" storyline, some of the remaining powered Morlocks sought out asylum at the X-Mansion. There were some Morlocks that remained underground under Marrow's protection.
During the "
Endangered Species" storyline, Masque and the Morlocks with him began their search for Magneto where they had some future-telling diaries with them where one of them states that Magneto is still a mutant in light of M-Day.
At the time when the Terrigen Cloud was loose on Earth infecting mutants with M-Pox since the "
Infinity
Infinity is that which is boundless, endless, or larger than any natural number. It is often denoted by the infinity symbol .
Since the time of the ancient Greeks, the philosophical nature of infinity was the subject of many discussions am ...
" storyline, the number of mutants that are living underground had increased. In addition to these mutants, Callisto showed sympathy towards the humans who sought out refuge from the global landscape. As a way to live out the dream of Professor X, this unified society of humans and mutants lived together as the New Morlocks. The Morlock are further decimated by the Mauraders, but Cyclops helps the Chechnyan government expel rebels in exchange for a Morlock sanctuary.
When
Krakoa was established as a mutant paradise, the known Morlocks that reside there are Callisto, Caliban,
[''X-Force'' vol. 6 #1. Marvel Comics.] Cybelle,
[''Hellions'' #1. Marvel Comics.] Erg,
a revived Healer,
Leech, Masque,
[''House of X'' #5. Marvel Comics.] Marrow,
Mole
[''Sabretooth'' Vol. 4 #1. Marvel Comics.] Piper,
Skids, and a revived Tommy.
Membership
Founding members
Debuting along with the rest of the Morlocks
(with the exception of Caliban)
it was revealed that Masque, Caliban, Callisto and Sunder founded the Morlocks under the streets of Manhattan.
*
Caliban - Caliban became Death, and later Pestilence
- Served on
X-Force for a time. Joined the X-Men after "Decimation". He was killed by the
Purifiers saving
James Proudstar
James Proudstar, known first as Thunderbird and then as Warpath, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most often those about the fictional superhero team X-Men. Proudstar first appears as the sec ...
.
*
Callisto - Former leader of the Morlocks. Arms were turned into tentacles by Masque.
Aided
Magneto
A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce periodic pulses of alternating current. Unlike a dynamo, a magneto does not contain a commutator to produce direct current. It is categorized as a form of alternator, ...
and
Professor X
Professor X (Charles Francis Xavier) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as the founder and sometimes leader of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-w ...
in
Genosha. Depowered. Former member Of X-Cell. Currently working in the Hellfire Club on Krakoa.
*
Dark Beast - Creator of the Morlocks. From the
Age of Apocalypse and the
Brotherhood. Infiltrated the
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to ...
for a time posing as the original
Beast
Beast most often refers to:
* Non-human animal
* Monster
Beast or Beasts may also refer to:
Bible
* Beast (Revelation), two beasts described in the Book of Revelation
Computing and gaming
* Beast (card game), English name of historical Fren ...
. Although not classed as a Morlock, he sees himself as their creator and has been called the "first one" by members of
Gene Nation. He was recruited by
Norman Osborn
Norman Osborn is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, first appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #14 (July 1964) as the firs ...
as scientist and member of
Dark X-Men. Recently he gained control over
Clan Akkaba and rebuilt the portal to his own dimension. There he is a member of that reality's Clan Akkaba as well.
*
Masque
The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment that flourished in 16th- and early 17th-century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio (a public version of the masque was the pageant). A mas ...
- Former leader after the "
Mutant Massacre
"Mutant Massacre" was a 1986 Marvel Comics crossover storyline. It primarily involved the superhero teams the X-Men and X-Factor. The solo hero Thor, the New Mutants, Power Pack and Daredevil crossed over for an issue each in their own com ...
". Led a splinter group for a time called
The Tunnelers
Morlocks are a group of mutant characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters are usually depicted as being associated with the X-Men in the Marvel Universe. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Pa ...
. Impaled by
Shatterstar's sword but was revealed alive.
*
Sunder
Sunder may refer to:
*Sunder (actor)
Sunder Singh as some of his earlier movies he's screen name given Sundar Lall he was a noted Indian film actor between the 1930s and 1980s. He acted in many Hindi and Punjabi language films in his career ...
- Joined the impromptu Muir Island "X-Men" team. Shot by
Pretty Boy
Pretty Boy may refer to:
People
* Pretty Boy Floyd (1904–1934), American gangster and bank robber
* Don Covay (1936–2015), American singer
* Larry Hennig (1936–2018), American professional wrestler
* Floyd Mayweather Jr. (born 1977), Ame ...
of the
Reavers.
Pre-Mutant Massacre
* Annalee
- Emotion projector. Adopts Leech.
Shot by
Scalphunter in the "Mutant Massacre".
* Ape
- Shapeshifter. Captured by the
Weapon X program and sent to its Neverland concentration camp and killed.
[''Weapon X'' vol. 2 #5. Marvel Comics.]
*
Beautiful Dreamer - Altered memories of those "recruited" as Morlocks. Believed killed in the "Mutant Massacre", but listed as alive and powered after "
M-Day". Was later infused with the
Legacy Virus by the
Purifiers and died from the virus's effects.
* Healer
- A mutant whose healing powers only work on mutants. He burned himself out to heal and restore Callisto.
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #291. Marvel Comics.] Healer was later revived when Krakoa was established as a mutant nation.
*
Erg - Electrical blaster. Erg was a
painter
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...
before becoming a Morlock. He was one of the 198. Joined Masque's recent incarnation. Later resurfaced as part of the mutant community on the living island
Krakoa.
* Jo
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #179. Marvel Comics.] - Only appearance as a Morlock was her debut issue as
Kitty Pryde's bridesmaid. Current whereabouts unknown.
*
Leech
Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented b ...
- Has been in the first few incarnations of the Morlocks. Adopted son of
Annalee. Formerly of
X-Terminators
The X-Terminators are fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
History
The name "X-Men" was originally used by X-Factor at that group's inception. The five original X-Men (Angel, Beast, Cyclops, I ...
and
Generation X
Generation X (or Gen X for short) is the Western demographic cohort following the baby boomers and preceding the millennials. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1960s as starting birth years and the late 1970s to early 1980s ...
. Captured by the
Weapon X program and used as the Neverland power damper. He was one of
The 198 who retained their mutant powers after "
House of M". Used by Masque because of the prophecies of Qwerty. Currently a member of
Future Foundation.
* Piper
- Controlled animals using music. Killed by the
Marauders
Marauder, marauders, The Marauder, or The Marauders may refer to:
* A person engaged in banditry or related activity
** Piracy
** Looting
** Outlaw
** Partisan (military)
** Robbery
** Theft
Entertainment
* ''Marauder'', the second novel in t ...
.
Resurfaced later, resurrected, as part of the mutant community on Krakoa.
* Plague
- Became
Pestilence, one of the
Horsemen of Apocalypse. Died after falling off her flying horse.
*
Skids - Resented because she was seen as the prettiest of the Morlocks (her force field protected her from scars and Masque's powers). She left them and became a ward of
X-Factor. After "M-Day", she became a follower of
Apocalypse
Apocalypse () is a literary genre in which a supernatural being reveals cosmic mysteries or the future to a human intermediary. The means of mediation include dreams, visions and heavenly journeys, and they typically feature symbolic imager ...
and is friends with
Scalphunter. Was part of Masque's new group of Morlock Extremists, as a spy for
S.H.I.E.L.D.
*
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), ...
- X-Man who defeated
Callisto in a duel to become the Morlocks' leader, although not classified as a Morlock. Former
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in '' The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover dated Nov. 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first ...
member and former Queen of
Wakanda. Currently a member of the X-Men.
*
Tar Baby - Secretes adhesive. Captured by the
Weapon X program, sent to the Neverland concentration camp and killed.
* Annalee's four children
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #193. Marvel Comics.] - Shot by
Scalphunter.
Only later revealed that Scalphunter was the one who killed the four children.
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #211. Marvel Comics.]
Mutant Massacre
The "
Mutant Massacre
"Mutant Massacre" was a 1986 Marvel Comics crossover storyline. It primarily involved the superhero teams the X-Men and X-Factor. The solo hero Thor, the New Mutants, Power Pack and Daredevil crossed over for an issue each in their own com ...
" was one of Marvel's annual crossovers events, centering on the Morlocks. The event resulted in the
Marauders
Marauder, marauders, The Marauder, or The Marauders may refer to:
* A person engaged in banditry or related activity
** Piracy
** Looting
** Outlaw
** Partisan (military)
** Robbery
** Theft
Entertainment
* ''Marauder'', the second novel in t ...
killing many of the Morlocks under orders of
Mr. Sinister
Mister Sinister (Nathaniel Essex) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont, the character was first mentioned as the employer behind the team of assassins known as the Marau ...
. Only a few survived, with the protection of the
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to ...
,
X-Factor,
Power Pack and
Thor
Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred groves and trees, strength, the protection of humankind, hallowing ...
. The event spanned ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #210–212, ''X-Factor'' #9–11, ''The New Mutants'' #46, ''Thor'' #373–374 and ''Power Pack'' #27. Many new Morlocks debuted, although many were killed in their first appearance.
* Berzerker
- An electric mutant who was formerly part of Masque's splinter group, The Tunnelers. Killed by electrocuting himself with his own powers.
* Blowhard
- A wind-exhaling mutant who was formerly part of Masque's splinter group The Tunnelers. Shot by the Savage Wolf Gang leader.
* Cybelle
- Acid-secreting Tunneler. Killed by
Harpoon
A harpoon is a long spear-like instrument and tool used in fishing, whaling, sealing, and other marine hunting to catch and injure large fish or marine mammals such as seals and whales. It accomplishes this task by impaling the target animal ...
.
Resurfaced later as one of the many resurrected mutants on Krakoa.
* Scaleface
[''X-Factor'' #11. Marvel Comics.] - A female mutant who was formerly part of Masque's splinter group, The Tunnelers. Shot by the police in her reptile form.
Subsequently revived several times as a
zombie.
* Tommy
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #210. Marvel Comics.] - A young girl capable of adopting a
two-dimensional
In mathematics, a plane is a Euclidean ( flat), two-dimensional surface that extends indefinitely. A plane is the two-dimensional analogue of a point (zero dimensions), a line (one dimension) and three-dimensional space. Planes can arise ...
form. Shot by
Scalphunter after she accidentally led the Marauders to the entrance to the Morlocks' home. It was later revealed that this was
Gambit's doing. She resurfaced years later as one of the many resurrected mutants on Krakoa.
* Zeek
[''X-Factor'' #10. Marvel Comics.] - Killed by
Harpoon
A harpoon is a long spear-like instrument and tool used in fishing, whaling, sealing, and other marine hunting to catch and injure large fish or marine mammals such as seals and whales. It accomplishes this task by impaling the target animal ...
.
Post-Mutant Massacre
Most of the surviving Morlocks relocated themselves throughout New York City after the massacre. Few, however, returned to the Alley, their original home. There,
Masque
The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment that flourished in 16th- and early 17th-century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio (a public version of the masque was the pageant). A mas ...
assumed leadership. Many new surviving Morlocks were introduced when
Sabretooth decided to finish his original task.
[''X-Factor'' #51. Marvel Comics.] He is stopped by a newly "upgraded"
Caliban.
Later, a splinter group of the Morlocks is introduced. This group, led by
Pixie
A pixie (also pisky, pixy, pixi, pizkie, and piskie in Cornwall and Devon, and pigsie or puggsy in the New Forest) is a mythical creature of British folklore. Pixies are considered to be particularly concentrated in the high moorland areas ar ...
, attempts to escape Masque.
* Alex
- Alex is an amorphous, blob-like creature, able to engulf and smother others. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Bertram
- Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Bliss
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #261. Marvel Comics.] - Has the power of a poisonous bite. Was a part of Masque's new group of Morlock Extremists.
* Bouncer
- Mass teleporter. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Brute
- Shot by
Cable.
* Chickenwings
- Killed by Sabretooth.
* Ent
- Superhuman strength. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
*
Feral
A feral () animal or plant is one that lives in the wild but is descended from domesticated individuals. As with an introduced species, the introduction of feral animals or plants to non-native regions may disrupt ecosystems and has, in some ...
- Left the Morlocks. She was depowered as a result of "
Decimation" but she regained her physical mutation, only to be killed by Sabretooth. She does return again but as a ghost to serve as a tracker for deities and demons.
* Hump
- Brute's brother. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Lightning Bug
- Killed in the "Mutant Massacre". Astral essence survived and searches out a new form to inhabit. Its essence later perished.
* Mole
- Could tunnel through solid matter. It is strongly implied that Mole was killed by Sabretooth However, he actually survived by digging to safety and laid low until Krakoa was established as a mutant nation.
* Mother Inferior
- Could communicate with rats, cockroaches, and other vermin. Crushed by falling debris.
* Pester
[''Web of Spider-Man'' #77. Marvel Comics.] - Daughter-in-law of Mother Inferior. Possesses superhuman speed and fangs. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Pixie
- Led a splinter group of Morlocks on the run from Masque. Murdered by
Blackout.
* Samson
- Killed by Sabretooth
*
Thornn - Left the Morlocks after the Great Flood.
Depowered as a result of "
Decimation", but she regained her physical mutation.
The Hill
With
Masque
The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment that flourished in 16th- and early 17th-century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio (a public version of the masque was the pageant). A mas ...
presumed killed, an insane
Mikhail Rasputin takes over as leader of the Morlocks in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #293. He floods the tunnels, attempting to destroy the remaining Morlocks. It is revealed later that he actually transported the Morlocks to another dimension dubbed the Hill, whose timeline moved faster than the
main Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Comics take place. Super-teams such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Guardians of ...
. There, he set himself up as their king and forced them to fight for the right to live.
* Brain Cell
- Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Marilou
- Killed by Mikhail Rasputin.
*
Marrow - One of the Morlocks that were transported to the Hill dimension by Mikhail Rasputin. Returned to lead a terrorist faction known as
Gene Nation. Seemingly killed by Storm. Revealed to have survived with the help of a second heart.
Formerly of the
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to ...
,
S.H.I.E.L.D., X-Cell and the
Weapon X program. Only Gene Nation member who was a real Morlock (not being born in The Hill). Depowered.
* MeMe
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #292. Marvel Comics.] - Mind shut down by
Jean Grey to rescue humans he absorbed.
* Monte
- Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Mikhail Rasputin
- Former leader of the Morlocks. Transported them to the Hill dimension. Banished himself to Kapalan.
* Sack - A mutant with possession ability.
Africa/Gene Nation
With the Morlocks presumed dead from the floods caused by
Mikhail Rasputin, some of the remaining Morlocks were relocated to
Selima Oasis in
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in t ...
. When attacked by
Humanity's Last Stand
Humanity's Last Stand is a fictional radical anti- mutant fringe group appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters are depicted as enemies of the X-Men. The group's first appearance was in '' Uncanny X-Men Annual ...
, an emotional backlash caused
D'Gard to assume control over Storm, who relinquished her leadership role. In ''X-Men: Prime'' many of the Hill Morlocks returned to found
Gene Nation. As the new group, they attacked the human oppressors of the past Morlocks under the leadership of
Marrow. It is unknown whether the remaining Morlocks of Africa stayed there or relocated to New York. A few have been seen there since, as well as a few Morlocks who chose to remain in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...
despite previous attempts on their lives.
* Boost
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' Annual '97. Marvel Comics.] - One of the surviving Morlocks. Helped the
Brotherhood of Mutants
The Brotherhood of Mutants (originally called the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, sometimes referred to as BoEM or B.O.E.M) is a fictional team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters are depicted as being devote ...
escape in exchange for being relocated to North Africa.
Depowered.
* Carver
[''Wolverine'' vol. 2 #157. Marvel Comics.] - Leader of a splinter group of five Morlocks who survived the Massacre and the Flood and who still followed the old Morlock rules.
* D'Gard
- Became leader of the Morlocks while in North Africa when he made Storm relinquish her leadership. Killed by
Marrow as a sign of loyalty to the new
Weapon X program
*
Fever Pitch - A mutant whose body is composed of organic flames.
* Fugue
- Member of the splinter group of five who still follow the old Morlocks rule.
* Revelation - Revealed to have been in suspended animation around the time of Storm's becoming the Morlock leader as a result of her death-powers. Died in the
Punisher's arms.
* Soteira - Revealed to be around at the time
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), ...
became Morlock leader. Was the
scientist
A scientist is a person who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of the natural sciences.
In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosophica ...
that put Revelation in suspended animation. Appeared as a
hologram telling
Wolverine and the
Punisher she will die as a result of prolonged exposure to Revelation's powers.
* Tether
- One of the surviving Morlocks. Helped the
Brotherhood of Mutants
The Brotherhood of Mutants (originally called the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, sometimes referred to as BoEM or B.O.E.M) is a fictional team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters are depicted as being devote ...
escape in exchange for being relocated to North Africa.
Depowered.
* Ever - Member of Gene Nation and later member of Havok's Brotherhood. His body was composed of brain matter, granting him telepathic abilities.
* Reverb - Member of Gene Nation. Can focus his mental powers psychometrically, conducting clairvoyance and psychic bursts through the walls and floor of his surroundings. Killed by Storm.
* Membrain - Member of Gene Nation. Composed of mucous membrane, allowing him to liquify himself and flow at will, mucous has psychic properties that allow him to view distant places and stun his opponents.
* Vessel - Member of Gene Nation. Can drain the physical and psychic residue released from the recently deceased, increasing his physical size, strength, endurance, and resistance to injury. Killed by Agent Zero.
* Integer - Member of Dark Beast's Gene Nation. Exists in a conceptual mathematical state, making him intangible and capable of scrambling the thought patterns of others.
* Opsidian - Member of Dark Beast's Gene Nation. Exists in a state of pure darkforce, which makes him intangible, invisible while in shadow, able to stretch in light, and allows him to cast a negative empathic effect over others
After M-Day
After M-Day, some former Morlocks who lost their powers were Angel Dust, Boost, Callisto, Delphi, Irving, Marrow,
Postman, Qwerty, Shatter, Tether and the probability of
Feral
A feral () animal or plant is one that lives in the wild but is descended from domesticated individuals. As with an introduced species, the introduction of feral animals or plants to non-native regions may disrupt ecosystems and has, in some ...
and
Thornn. However, Feral and Thornn were later seen re-powered; but this was later to be revealed in ''Wolverine'' vol. 3 #54-55 that only their physical mutations were restored, not their mutant powers, which led to Feral being killed by
Sabretooth.
In one of
Generation M's "Ex-Mutants' Diaries," Sally interviews Marrow about the Morlocks. Marrow reports that 80% of the remaining Morlocks (which was most likely already very small) are depowered now and look like humans. She states that most of them are still afraid about going out of the tunnels.
Currently, Marrow works as a watchman of the Morlocks, as she is called by the remaining ones when problems occur. She explained this status in the aftermath of thirteen depowered Morlocks murdered by
Ghoul.
One character commented that, post-M-Day, the chance of meeting a Morlock in the tunnels under New York is now harder than meeting an alligator in the Floridian sewers.
Some former Morlocks who actually kept their powers sought refuge at
Xavier's Institute and became known as the
198
__NOTOC__
Year 198 (CXCVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Sergius and Gallus (or, less frequently, year 951 ''Ab u ...
. They are Beautiful Dreamer, Caliban, Erg, Leech, and Skids.
Dark Beast and Mikhail Rasputin are also still powered, though Mikhail is in Kapalan.
The Extremists
During
Ed Brubaker's "The Extremists" arc, the Morlocks reappear under the leadership of Masque and now consisting of Bliss, Erg, Litterbug, Skids and a recently captured Leech. Later in this story, it was revealed Skids only joined the Morlocks to spy on them on behalf of
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Morlocks Appearing During the Decimation Era
Powered
* Beautiful Dreamer - Killed by the
Purifiers using a new form of the
Legacy Virus
* Bliss - A resident of
Utopia
A utopia ( ) typically describes an imaginary community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its members. It was coined by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book '' Utopia'', describing a fictional island socie ...
* Joe Bugs - An insect-like mutant who was shown only in flashback. Killed by a clone of
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter (Sergei Kravinoff; Russian: Сергей Кравинов) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Debuting in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' issue #15 (August 1964) as an adversary ...
called Xraven.
* Caliban - Killed by the
Reavers during the events of ''
Messiah Complex''
* Erg - a resident of Utopia
* Feral - originally depowered on M-Day; her physical mutations were restored by
Romulus
Romulus () was the legendary founder and first king of Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus and his contemporaries. Although many of these ...
for unknown reasons before she was killed by
Sabretooth
* Fever Pitch - killed by the
Purifiers using a new form of the Legacy Virus
* Leech - a member of the
Future Foundation
* Litterbug - a resident of Utopia
* Masque - whereabouts are unknown
* Sack - formerly a resident of Utopia; killed by a
Nimrod Sentinel during the events of "
Second Coming
The Second Coming (sometimes called the Second Advent or the Parousia) is a Christian (as well as Islamic and Baha'i) belief that Jesus will return again after his ascension to heaven about two thousand years ago. The idea is based on messi ...
"
* Skids - an agent of
S.H.I.E.L.D.
Depowered
* Callisto - in the tunnels
* Marrow - a member of X-Force. She has had a simulacrum of her powers reactivated through technological means
* Thornn - her physical mutations were restored by
Romulus
Romulus () was the legendary founder and first king of Rome. Various traditions attribute the establishment of many of Rome's oldest legal, political, religious, and social institutions to Romulus and his contemporaries. Although many of these ...
for unknown reasons; whereabouts are unknown
Former leaders not involved with group
* Dark Beast - the leader of
Clan Akkaba
* Mikhail Rasputin - banished himself to Kapalan
* Storm - affiliated with the
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to ...
and the
Jean Grey School of Higher Learning and
Uncanny X-Force
Other groups
There are other groups that are related to the main Morlocks group:
Chicago Morlocks
In June 2002,
Marvel released a four-part limited series, ''Morlocks''. In it, a small group of mutants living in the sewers of
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...
help each other to fulfill their one last wish on the surface while trying to escape the mutant-hunting
Sentinels.
* Angel Dust
- She ran away from home upon discovering she was a mutant, to protect her family from possible Sentinel attacks. Adrenaline gives her bursts of super-strength. Confirmed to be depowered by
S.H.I.E.L.D.
* Cell
- Robber and gang member whose body transformed into a giant,
single-celled
A unicellular organism, also known as a single-celled organism, is an organism that consists of a single cell, unlike a multicellular organism that consists of multiple cells. Organisms fall into two general categories: prokaryotic organisms and ...
body capable of extending
pseudopods and engulfing objects which then are digested. Executed by the Sentinels.
* Electric Eve
- Former
heroin addict and
prostitute whose body produces massive amounts of electrical energy that can be extended outward in bolts of electricity. As a side-effect of her powers, the
synapse
In the nervous system, a synapse is a structure that permits a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron or to the target effector cell.
Synapses are essential to the transmission of nervous impulses fr ...
s in her brain short-out from time to time, incapacitating her for several minutes. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Litterbug
- Former soldier who went
AWOL upon his transformation into a giant,
cockroach
Cockroaches (or roaches) are a Paraphyly, paraphyletic group of insects belonging to Blattodea, containing all members of the group except termites. About 30 cockroach species out of 4,600 are associated with human habitats. Some species are we ...
-like creature with massive strength, invulnerability, and a keen burrowing ability. He has difficulty speaking in this form. Member of the recent incarnation of New York Morlocks.
* Postman
- Leader of the Chicago Morlocks. Can
telepathically erase specific memories from targets (such as an event) or complex and deeply rooted facts or knowledge. Depowered.
* Shatter
- His body is composed of a hard
crystal
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macr ...
line material that can regenerate lost body parts over time, and also can crystallize liquids upon contact. Depowered.
* Trader
- Former
stockbroker
A stockbroker is a regulated broker, broker-dealer, or registered investment adviser (in the United States) who may provide financial advisory and investment management services and execute transactions such as the purchase or sale of stocks ...
who has a
chameleon-like ability to
camouflage
Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see, or by disguising them as something else. Examples include the leopard's spotted coat, the b ...
into his surroundings. Killed taking a bullet meant for Electric Eve.
London Tunnel Dwellers
In ''The
Uncanny X-Men'' #397–398, parts 3 and 4 of the ''Poptopia'' story, a group of Morlocks living in the tunnels of
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
are introduced. They were being pursued by an agent of the
Church of Humanity named Mr. Clean, a genetically engineered human who was stalking and killing mutants. This was their only appearance. It is unknown whether or not they survived the persecution of the Church of Humanity.
* Burning Puddle
[''The Uncanny X-Men'' #395. Marvel Comics.] - Son of Miss Saccharine. Sweats acid. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Carla
- Mole-like woman. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Cyclops
- A one-eyed mutant with super-strength who is not to be confused with the
X-Men member of the same name. He died buying his fellow London Tunnel Dwellers some time to get away from Mr. Clean.
* Double Helix
- A two-headed man. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Harmony
- Mother of Hope; has gills. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Hope - Harmony's newborn baby. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
* Miss Saccharine
- Elderly woman and mother of Burning Puddle whose sweat is a sugar-like substance. Current whereabouts and status unknown.
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
In the 10th anniversary of the "
Age of Apocalypse" event, which takes place after the nuclear attack in ''X-Men: Omega'', several characters who were not in the original storyline are introduced, among them are the Morlocks which includes
Feral
A feral () animal or plant is one that lives in the wild but is descended from domesticated individuals. As with an introduced species, the introduction of feral animals or plants to non-native regions may disrupt ecosystems and has, in some ...
,
Leech
Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented b ...
,
Marrow,
Skids and
Thornn among many other unnamed mutants.
The Morlocks were largely a peaceful group that refused to follow Apocalypse's regime and for that decision they were all captured and imprisoned in the Breeding Pens for gruesome experiments by
Sinister and the
Beast
Beast most often refers to:
* Non-human animal
* Monster
Beast or Beasts may also refer to:
Bible
* Beast (Revelation), two beasts described in the Book of Revelation
Computing and gaming
* Beast (card game), English name of historical Fren ...
. One known Morlock member was
Artemis
In ancient Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Artemis (; grc-gre, Ἄρτεμις) is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, Kourotrophos, care of children, and chastity. ...
.
After the fall of Apocalypse, a trail of escaped mutants from the Breeding Pens lead the X-Men underground, they encountered a group of scared, orphaned children called the Morlocks. The X-Men offered to help bring them out of hiding in the sewers, but the Morlocks lashed out at them for fear of being locked up and thrown back into cages by the X-Men, now mutant-hunting officers of the newly restored human government. The X-Men emerged victorious and the Morlocks were brought back to the
Xavier Institute
The X-Mansion or Xavier Institute is the common name for a mansion and research institute appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The mansion is depicted as the private estate of Charles Francis Xavier, a character in X-Me ...
where they were detained.
Ultimate Marvel
The Morlocks in the
Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel, later known as Ultimate Comics, was an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring re-imagined and modernized versions of the company's superhero characters from the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Those characters ...
universe have a more sophisticated underground living situation than the mainstream Morlocks, including at least one mutant with energy-generating powers to provide electricity,
hydroponic gardens to provide or supplement their food supply, and external air-exchange vents.
In
Ultimate X-Men #80 Nightcrawler saves the Morlock named
Pyro
Pyro comes from the Greek word πῦρ (pyr), meaning ''fire''. It may refer to:
Businesses
*Pyro Plastics Corporation, a plastic model kit maker 1940s through the 1970s
*Pyro Studios, a computer game developer based in Madrid
* NRK P3 Pyro, a No ...
, who was outnumbered while fighting the
Friends of Humanity and the police. Other members shown as of issue #82 are
Caliban,
Callisto, Sparks and
Sunder
Sunder may refer to:
*Sunder (actor)
Sunder Singh as some of his earlier movies he's screen name given Sundar Lall he was a noted Indian film actor between the 1930s and 1980s. He acted in many Hindi and Punjabi language films in his career ...
(who was the leader). After a fight with the X-Men (who were trying to rescue
Toad
Toad is a common name for certain frogs, especially of the family Bufonidae, that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps covering the parotoid glands.
A distinction between frogs and toads is not made in scient ...
), the Morlocks elected Nightcrawler as their new leader. In #90
Mister Sinister finishes his 10 mutant kills at the Morlock base. His kills include
Leech
Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented b ...
and
Angel
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles inc ...
.
In other media
Film
* In ''
X2'', a file named "Morlocks" appears on the desktop of
Stryker's computer.
* The Morlocks appear in ''
X-Men: The Last Stand'', though never mentioned by that name. Instead, they are referred to as The Omegas. Callisto is still the leader (she possessed Caliban's mutant sensory ability and Quicksilver's speed), but other members (including
Arclight,
Glob Herman,
Phat,
Psylocke,
Quill
A quill is a writing tool made from a moulted flight feather (preferably a primary wing-feather) of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen, the metal- nibbed pen, the fountain pen, and, event ...
/
Kid Omega, and
Spike) are pulled from other parts of The X-Men universe.
Leech
Leeches are segmented parasitic or predatory worms that comprise the subclass Hirudinea within the phylum Annelida. They are closely related to the oligochaetes, which include the earthworm, and like them have soft, muscular segmented b ...
also appears in the film, with no apparent connection to The Omegas.
* Angel Dust appears in ''
Deadpool
Deadpool is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist/writer Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in '' New Mutants'' #98 (cover-dated Feb. 1991). Initially, De ...
'', portrayed by
Gina Carano. This Angel Dust is a partner to
Ed Skrein's
Ajax as she is there when giving
Wade Wilson the serum designed to awaken his mutant genes and eventually turn him into Deadpool. She fights alongside Ajax in the final act of the film against Wilson,
Colossus, and
Negasonic Teenage Warhead
Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Ellie Phimister) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, the character first appeared in '' New X-Men'' #115 (2001). She is named aft ...
and is defeated by the latter two.
Music
* The Northern California
thrash metal
Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...
band Hatchet have a song called "Morlock's Tomb" based on the characters from
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to ...
.
Television
* The Morlocks appear in ''
X-Men: The Animated Series
''X-Men'', also known as ''X-Men: The Animated Series'', is an animated superhero television series which debuted on October 31, 1992, in the United States on the Fox Kids Network. ''X-Men'' was Marvel Comics' second attempt at an animated X-Men ...
''. Its members are Annalee, Ape, Caliban, Callisto, Erg, Glowworm, Leech, Masque, Mole, Marianna, Plague, Scaleface, Sunder, Tar Baby, and Tommy. They first appear in "Captive Hearts" where the Morlocks captured
Cyclops and
Jean Grey. The X-Men led by
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstorm), ...
then came to get Jean and Cyclops back. In the end after a duel between Storm and Callisto, not only did the X-Men get Cyclops and Jean back, Storm also gained leadership of the Morlocks. They would have a major role to play in the episode "Out of the Past" and were last seen in "Have Yourself a Morlock Little X-Mas". Several of the Morlocks would have subsequent cameos in this show outside of the sewers where Tar Baby was seen in "Sanctuary", Ape and Mole were seen in "Secrets, Not Long Buried" among the inhabitants of Skull Mesa, and Callisto and Mole were in "Graduation Day" among the mutants that form an army for Magneto to lead.
* The Morlocks have appeared in the ''
X-Men: Evolution'' episode "X-Treme Measures". The members of the Morlocks represented include Caliban, Callisto, Cybelle, and Scaleface. The series also introduced the Morlock characters Facade (a mutant boy with camouflage powers who can blend with his surroundings), Lucid (a mutant with X-Ray vision who is voiced by
Lee Tockar
Lee William Tockar (born 1969) is a Canadian voice actor and visual artist who works for several studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is also a writer of children's literature, a musician, sculptor, illustrator and collected painter ...
), and Torpid (a mute mutant little girl with a paralyzing touch coming from her large hands). Unlike their comic counterparts, they have no facial reconstructions as bestowed by Masque (who is not featured in this series), although some are naturally ugly due to their mutations. The Morlocks first appear attacking a beverage factory because something in the drinks is poisonous to mutants. It leaked into the tunnels, causing some of the unnamed members to fall ill.
Spyke later joined them to protect the weaker Morlocks. In the episode "Uprising", Spyke protects the Morlocks and convinces them not to stay hidden. The Morlocks later help Spyke and the X-Men fight Duncan Matthews and his friends when they start attacking mutants.
* The Morlocks have appeared in ''
The Gifted'' season two episode "coMplications". They are led by Erg.
Video games
* In the video game ''
X-Men Legends'', the
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to ...
must go on a mission to rescue
Gambit from the Morlocks. Marrow is the leader of the militant
Gene Nation which is represented as a faction of Morlocks. Healer also plays an important part in the game as he sells health and energy potions to the player. Aside from Marrow and Healer are a substantial number of unnamed Morlock Grunts, Morlock Claws, Morlock Goths, Morlock Lieutenants, Morlock Giants, Morlock Leviathans, and Morlock Blades.
* In ''
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse'', the Morlocks have been brainwashed by
Apocalypse
Apocalypse () is a literary genre in which a supernatural being reveals cosmic mysteries or the future to a human intermediary. The means of mediation include dreams, visions and heavenly journeys, and they typically feature symbolic imager ...
and
Mister Sinister, leaving Marrow as a known survivor where she has joined
Moira MacTaggert and others in helping rescue refugees.
* The Morlock Tunnels appear in the video game ''
Marvel Heroes''. The Morlock Tunnels come under attack by the
Purifiers.
Reception
The Morlocks were ranked #14 on a listing of Marvel Comics' monster characters in 2015.
References
External links
Morlocksat Marvel.com
Morlocksat Marvel Wiki
Morlocksat Comic Vine
Uncannyxmen.net feature on Morlocks
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morlocks (Comics)
Marvel Comics mutants
Marvel Comics titles
Characters created by Chris Claremont
X-Men
Fictional secret societies
Fictional organizations in Marvel Comics